Infertility is the loss of human ability to reproduce. Stress, old age, hormonal pills - factors causing infertility? Researchers have found out what is true and what is fiction in the causes of infertility.
1. Women taking birth control pills for a long time suffer from infertility
Myth. After stopping the pill, pregnancy usually occurs after a few months, even if the woman has taken them for years. This is the result of a study conducted by the University of Frankfurt, in which nearly 650 women took part. Within one year, more than 610 of them became pregnant, more than half - in the first three cycles. Taking the pill does not affect the fertility of a woman.
2. Mobile phones make men barren
More likely no than yes. Cell phone in your pocket inhibits the formation of male sperm. The results were obtained in a Hungarian study that established a clear link between matte sperm and phone radiation.
Most other studies, however, have received opposite results. The Federal Office for Radiation Protection commented on a Hungarian study. Scientists have concluded that a cell phone does not pose a direct threat to male fertility.
3. Women are less fertile from 40 years old
true. The likelihood of becoming pregnant in a woman decreases after 30 years. Ideal childbearing age ranges from 20 to 25 years. The probability of having a baby per cycle is 30%. For women over 35, the probability per cycle is only half, and at the age of 40, it decreases to 10-15%.
4. Hot baths damage sperm
true. High body temperature affects sperm quality, but only temporarily. Hot baths reduce sperm motility and sperm count. However, it affects the formed sperm weakly. Men who want children should do without a jacuzzi, heated seats in the car and frequent visits to the sauna.
5. While a woman is breastfeeding, she cannot become pregnant
Myth. Women who breast-feed their baby may become pregnant. However, breastfeeding temporarily reduces fertility. Reason: when breastfeeding, the body produces the hormone prolactin, which also prevents oocyte maturation and ovulation. According to studies, breaks in breastfeeding lasting four hours reduce the level of prolactin. Therefore, ovulation is possible and the woman becomes fertile.
6. Sexual abstinence enhances the male ability to reproduce.
Totally the opposite. Australian scientists have found that frequent intercourse improves sperm quality. According to the study, sperm contained more sperm after three days of sexual abstinence, but 12% of them were deformed. Their explanation: during abstinence, sperm accumulates in the testes. The older it is, the more DNA damage can cause free radicals.
7. The longer you can’t get pregnant, the greater the chance of not getting pregnant at all
Only partially true. Pregnancy success per cycle is an average of 25-30%. However, if a woman does not become pregnant after a year, the probability will decrease to 50%, and after four years - to 5%.
8. Masturbation reduces fertility
Myth. The story that a man has only a limited number of ejaculations in his life is as old as the world. A healthy person produces seminal fluid all his life.
9. If the couple does not have children, the woman is up to
Myth. Only in 25% of cases the cause of infertility is exclusively a woman, and in 30% of men. If the desire of the child does not come true, the reason lies in male diseases. Doctors often find that they either don’t produce enough sperm or have weak sperm. In women, the cause of infertility can be hormonal imbalance, dysfunction of the fallopian tubes or uterus.
10. Stress causes infertility
Myth. There are several serious studies that have disproved the effects of stress on male and female fertility. They show unmistakably that couples are experiencing stress due to the inability to have children. Therefore, stress occurs in response to infertility, rather than causing it.
